The break is over, and the second half begins.
The Boston Celtics players stepped back onto the wooden floor. Pierce's face no longer showed any sign of dejection, Big Ben's eyes were as focused as ever, and Wade was full of fighting spirit.
The Lakers have possession of the ball. Kidd dribbles past half-court and habitually looks for O'Neal in the paint.
Big Ben Wallace was positioned in front of O'Neal, one hand raised high, blocking the passing lane. O'Neal swung his massive arm, trying to use pure weight and strength to push Big Ben aside, but Big Ben occupied three-quarters of the frontal position, refusing to budge an inch.
Kidd hesitated for a moment, but Garnett's long arms had already interfered. Left with no other option, Kidd could only lob the ball high above the basket, attempting to use O'Neal's height advantage to force an alley-oop.
Just as the basketball was in flight, Prince, who was originally guarding the wing, decisively abandoned his opponent and quickly collapsed under the basket, forming a double-team with Big Ben.
"Smack!"
The basketball hit Prince's outstretched arm, changing its direction. Garnett caught the falling ball and yelled, "Run!"
Wade launched a fast break. He pushed his speed to the limit and had already crossed the midfield line before anyone else could react. Garnett's long pass was accurate.
Wade received the ball at the free-throw line and, facing Fisher who couldn't get back on defense in time, executed a wide Europe step while moving at high speed. Fisher's center of gravity was completely shaken off, and Wade propelled himself into the air with both legs, slamming the ball into the basket with one hand! 44 to 45.
The oppressive atmosphere in the entire New Garden was completely shattered by this fast break dunk.
Wade's fast-break dunk rekindled Boston's morale, but the Lakers didn't let one dunk throw them off balance.
In response, the Lakers immediately took action. Kidd noticed the shift in Boston's interior defense and made a convincing fake drive, passing the ball from Big Ben's blind spot to Shaquille O'Neal O'Neal deep inside.
O'Neal received the ball, lowered his shoulder, and used his weight advantage to break through Garnett's double team, forcefully dunking the ball into the basket and drawing a foul from Big Ben Wallace in the process.
The third quarter had just begun when Big Ben picked up his fourth personal foul. Rick Carlisle looked grim on the sidelines, but he had no choice but to substitute Big Ben for protection.
" Rasheed!" Rick Carlisle turned and shouted towards the bench.
Rasheed Wallace ripped off his warm-up suit and walked toward the scorer's table.
Rasheed's entry into the game immediately formed Twin Towers lineup with Kevin Garnett for Boston. These two tall, long-armed, and equally hot-tempered big men standing in the paint instantly increased the defensive coverage and deterrent effect in the restricted area.
Boston inbounds the ball from the baseline. Billups dribbles past half-court, Rasheed immediately raises his hand to call for the ball on the left side of the court.
Defending him was Charles Barkley. Barkley his solid lower body to desperately brace against Rasheed's back, attempting to use his strength advantage to push him out of his comfort zone.
But Rasheed displayed his outstanding offensive talent. He didn't engage in much physical contact with Barkley; after receiving the ball, he shrugged his shoulder inward and then, using his left foot as a pivot, quickly completed a smooth back turn towards the baseline.
The instant the move was completed, Rasheed's physical gifts were on full display. He leaped high, raised the ball overhead, and fully extended his right arm. It was a straight-arm fadeaway jump shot with a perfect arc!
Barkley jumped desperately to block, but he couldn't reach Rasheed's absurd release point, especially since he's almost forty years old.
"Whoosh!"
The basketball swished through the net. 46 to 47.
The Lakers were on offense, Kidd tried to use a screen to find a mismatch with Rasheed. But Rasheed's defensive awareness and footwork were equally excellent. He cleverly delayed Kidd's driving route, and at the moment O'Neal rolled to the basket, he and Garnett formed a perfect trap to close the gap.
Kidd was forced to pass the ball to Marion on the wing, but Marion missed a three-pointer from the corner.
Garnett leaped up to grab the rebound and immediately passed the ball to Wade was on a fast break. Wade drove into the paint, drawing the attention of several Lakers players who collapsed their defense.
Just when everyone thought Wade was going to force a layup, he passed the ball back in mid-air to the three-point line at the top of the arc.
There, Rasheed Wallace was striding after him.
Rasheed received the ball, aimed, and shot—the entire motion was without any hesitation.
The basketball arced high through the air, and with the entire arena watching, it sank in! 49-47, Boston took the lead!
Rasheed roared with excitement. He flashed the three-pointer celebration sign with both hands, tilted his head back and roared, then slammed into Garnett's chest as he retreated to defend. The two big men vented their emotions in the center of the court.
But Rasheed's temper can also cause trouble.
In the sixth minute of the third quarter, Barkley made a strong attack on Rasheed in the paint. Barkley cleverly used a layup fake, and in the instant he lost his balance, he deliberately leaned against Rasheed, threw the ball out, and then dramatically fell to the floor.
The referee immediately blew the whistle for a defensive foul.
This ruling enraged Rasheed. He stared wide-eyed at the referee in disbelief, then rushed over.
"What nonsense are you spouting?! He fell down on his own! I didn't even touch him!" Rasheed protested loudly, waving his arms.
The referee, expressionless, immediately signaled a technical foul.
Boos erupted from the New Garden. Rick Carlisle stomped his feet in frustration on the sidelines, and Garnett and Billups rushed over, grabbing the still-furious Rasheed on either side and dragging him back into the paint.
"That was a dive! A clear dive!" Rasheed continued to yell.
Barkley got up from the floor, dusted off his shorts, and walked to the free-throw line, ready to take the free throw for the technical foul.
The Boston fans erupted in a deafening chorus of boos, attempting to distract the veteran. Barkley took a deep breath, dribbled the ball, and released it.
The basketball bounced off the back of the rim and flew high, but it didn't go in!
Seeing this, Rasheed, who was being held by his teammate, suddenly stopped struggling. He broke free of Garnett's arm and yelled at Barkley at the free-throw line and the referee at the baseline:
"Basketball doesn't lie!"
The shout, delivered clearly through the microphones on the sidelines, echoed throughout the entire arena. The New Garden fans were completely energized by this bold declaration, and the whole stadium erupted in a huge cheer.
Fueled by this high spirits, the interior defense of Rasheed and Garnett displayed tremendous defensive coverage in the latter part of the third quarter. They disrupted the Lakers ' connection between the inside and outside with aggressive help defense, frequent physical contact, and rebounding.
At the end of the third quarter, the Boston Celtics led 71-66, a five-point advantage, forcing the game into a decisive fourth quarter.